Him & I

Chapter 39

15 years later
Jace's POV

"Arorah, Kieran wake up," i shouted. "No," I got muffled answers. "Now. You've got school," I yelled. "I don't want to go," Arorah called back. "Neither," Kieran added. "Get your asses up before I drag you both the way you look," I smiled. "Fine," they both groaned. After a while, both my kids came downstairs. "Morning dad," they both looked at me like they wanted to kill me. "Don't blame me," I put my hands up in surrender. "Happy birthday by the way," I smiled at them. "Do we have to go. It is our birthday?" Arorah smiled like it would work. "Nope, you've got to go to school. Don't forget Mitch is going to pick you up," I told them. "He picks us up all the time. Can't we have our own cars?" Kieran whined. "Nope, you may know how to drive but your not 17 yet so you can't have a license. I'll get Emilio to get that for your birthday next year," I reasoned and put a plate of pancakes in front of them. "Where's grandpa at anyway?" Arorah asked. "He's at the gang house. Mitch will be dropping you off there instead of here as I have work to do for Emilio," I replied. "No work at the shop then?" Kieran looked at me. "I have a car that needs doing but that can wait until tomorrow. Now hurry up before your late," I hurried them. Just like me, my kids love to sleep. It doesn't matter if you make plans, they choose sleep over everything.

When I dropped the kids off at school, I head to Cora's tree. I chose to have her cremated at her ashes scattered by a tree. When I got there, someone was sat near it. "Hey Chris," I sat down next to him. "Hello mate," he smiled a little. "Arorah asked about you this morning," I told him. "I haven't been around a lot recently have I?" Chris sighed. "Don't worry about it. They understand," I patted his shoulder. "Did you know what she wanted to talk about?" Chris turned to face me. "No," I replied. "I'm thinking of bringing them here. They don't ask about her but I know they want to know," I admitted. "Maybe it's time. They are 16 now," Chris shrugged. "I'll do it later. I just wanted to come here for a bit before work," I sighed. "Job for Emilio?" He asked. "Yeah. Don't have to do anything at the shop that's urgent so," I trailed off. "Yeah, I'll see you later jace," Chris stood up and walked away. "God I miss you so fucking much," I sighed and looked down. "I miss her to," someone says behind me. I look up to see Elijah stood there. "Alright mate," I turn back to the tree. "You know my mum and dad still talk about her," Elijah sat down next to me. "Arorah and Kieran don't ask about her. Mitch does, he asks if he can come visit as he still remembers her," I told him. "Its still a fresh wound for us huh?" Elijah chuckled a little. "Yeah I guess. It's hard everyday, especially when Arorah looks exactly like her," I looked at the floor. "Maybe they will ask one day. I heard Kieran talking on the phone to one of his friends about her, saying that he's never met his mum," Elijah sighed. "I'll bring them here later, let's go. I need to do shit for your uncle," I stood up. Elijah followed me and we left.

I got to the gang house not long after. When Cora died I brought myself a three bedroom house for me, Kieran and Arorah. We all got our own rooms so it was easy. After Cora I never had another girlfriend, it's always been me and my kids. The house was a lot so I had to keep saving but when the twins turned three, I opened my own auto repair shop. I fix cars, trucks and motorcycles. Mitch and Kieran help me out a lot along with the other men I hired. Kieran and his mates usually hang out there as it's a spot for guys. Arorah sits there as well but stays in the staff room to read or draw. Just being on my own with my two kids was enough for me, I didn't need anyone else but them. It still hurts when I talk about cora but it got easier after a while. Elijah still feels the same as me since he witnessed her passing but it hurt me more.

Once I got out of my car, I went into the house to be pushed back. "Nice to see you to beks," I laughed. "Sorry jace. I'm fucking late for school," she hurried off. Emilio has new people in the gang since Salvatore, Nick, Hugo, Griffin, Bentley, Ronnie, Rose, connie, Amber, Lynn, Violet and Jessica was getting older. They all retired 5 years ago but still live in the house. When I walked into the living room, all I saw was the men staring intently at the tv. "Of course. Boxing," I chuckled. "Hey jace," they all smiled but kept their eyes on the tv. "Nice to see you to," I rolled my eyes. "Hello hun, how's the kids?" Rose stood up and hugged me. "They're alright. The usual grumpy teens but other than that they're good," I told her. "Elijah and Chris went to Cora's tree today," I sighed. "Still hurting?" Connie hugs me as well. "Yeah. Even though it's been 15 years I still feel as though she's around. It's getting easier but I need to have a talk with the twins about cora," I told them. "They're at that age where it can happen. It may be hard jace but they need to know now," Rose sighed. "Yeah I know. I'm going to pull them out of school at lunch so I can take them to her tree," I nodded.

After doing paper work with Emilio, I left to get Kieran and Arorah. It was lunch time when I picked them up. "I thought Mitch was getting us," Arorah stated. "He was. But we need to talk," I took a deep breath. "About what?" Kieran asked. "Your mum," I told them. I took them to the tree and we all sat down. "Your mum didn't leave. When you were one, she was kidnapped and murdered. Me, nick, Emilio, Elijah, Hugo, Ronnie, Griffin, Bentley and Damon all saw it," I started. Arorah already had tears in her eyes while Kieran looked shocked. "Your mum died in my arms and it hurt. It effected all of us in different ways, I lost my girlfriend, gramps lost a daughter and the gang lost a friend. It hurt me and Elijah since me and your mum had you two while Elijah had to watch a close friend, practically sister, die," I told them. "How did she go?" Kieran asked while gulping. "Another gang leader in London took her. When I went to get her the guy stabbed her before I could do anything. Elijah shot the man so he is dead as well," I explained. "What did she look like?" Arorah looked at me. She had tears rolling down her cheeks as I spoke. "Like you. Your very much like her Arorah. The way you smile, laugh and make people feel. Imagine you a bit older and then you would get your mum," I nodded. "What was she like?" Kieran smiled a little. "Amazing woman. Your mother was the kindest, most generous person I've ever met. She would be so proud of you two if she was here," someone said behind us. Mitch stood there. He was tall, well built and had his good looks. Dark brown hair and light eyes. "I remember the first day I met her. She took me in and one of her own. I'm proud to call her a mother figure to me," Mitch sat down with us. "Why doesn't gramps talk about mum?" Arorah looked at the floor. She was still crying so Mitch went behind her and hugged her. His arms went around her waist as she leaned back into him. "Chris is still hurt. Losing someone that was your only family, one person that never gave up on you. If you lost your dad or a close friend it would be hard. But losing a child or a partner kills you. Because your gramps hasn't dated anyone since your grandma, he doesn't know what it feels like to lose a partner. He only knows what it's like to lose a daughter, the day your dad came home I knew your mum wasn't coming back," Mitch told her. "Even 15 years later it still hurts us. I wish you could have met her," he added. "The only thing I regret is not getting to her quick enough. Even let her go out that day on her own," I sighed. "How old was she?" Arorah asked. "Your mum was 16 when she had you. 17 when she died," I replied. "That's us Kieran. Mums life barely began and we're here whining about how bad it is. Mum will never get to grow old, hell she never got to walk down the aisle. Kieran were taking everything for granted and we didn't even think that mum could have died. We just thought she up and left us," Arorah sobbed. "I know. I feel like a dick," Kieran looked down. Mitch hugged Arorah tighter as she cried. "Why do you feel like a dick?" I turned to him. "Because I kept on saying that mum never loved us thats why she left. And that mum didn't care," Kieran sighed. "Your mum loved you so much. If she was here she would be so proud of you two. To have a gorgeous daughter and a handsome son. You mum never wanted to leave but someone made her. I hate that it's like this but it is," I look between the pair. "There's no question that you mum loved you. She loved you with all her heart and more. More than your dad to be honest and your mum and dad loved each other a lot. Like when you see couples at school and your like 'couple goals,' that's what your mum and dad were like," Mitch chuckled a little making Arorah laugh a little as well. "Dad, how come you never got another girlfriend?" Kieran asked. "Because your mum was it for me. I don't need anyone else, I don't care about it though. I have my kids and that's all I need. Until my last breath, I'll always think of your mum and no one else," I replied. We all sat by the tree for a couple hours. Mitch and Arorah never moved positions so I think there's something going on there but I can't be sure. It didn't matter though, I had my family, my two kids and my adopted son. The only one missing was cora, but I know, she's by my side where ever me and my kids go. Looking out for us, making sure no danger comes to us. And that's my life, just living it an waiting for it to end so I can be with cora and we can rest together. Life is short, but it's a hell of a long time when you want to be with the person you've lost. And my person is cora.

A/N
Thank you for reading this story. It was just an idea that I had from my other book gang leaders girl. It's only my second piece so I have no clue if it's good enough so comment what you think. Thanks for reading him and I.